Volunteers wanted

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By John Curry

EMC News - The Richmond Village Association (RVA) is looking for more volunteers to help with its work in the community.

Don Flanders, who was re-elected by acclamation as RVA president at its annual general meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, put out the call for more volunteers, saying that the group has a limited number of volunteers and more are needed.

"Everyone benefits when you do," he said about the impact of people volunteering with the RVA.

Besides attracting more volunteers, another focus of the RVA in the coming year will be establishing and maintaining an enhanced website to provide information to the community.

Despite its volunteer challenges, the RVA has wrapped up an active 2011 year. RVA sponsored events included the Richmond Village Garage Sale Day, a clean-up the village initiative under the city's clean up the city campaign, a new children's poster contest centred around this village clean-up initiative, the annual garden and landscaping contest, the annual winter street banner contest, the Santa Claus parade and the Lighting of the Park ceremony.

In 2011, the RVA started providing financial support to the local youth centre at the Richmond Plaza.

The annual DeBoer Award honouring a Richmond resident for community involvement and service went in 2011 to longtime RVA president Ted Brown.

In 2011, the RVA also helped with the development of Neighbourhood Watch programs in the village and worked with the Richmond Public School Council and the Richmond Cooperative Nursery School on establishing a school speed zone along McBean Street.

In 2011, the RVA generated revenue of $13,162 while expenditures for the year were $13,946, which meant an operating deficit of $784 for the year.

Besides Mr. Flanders, others returned to executive positions for the RVA for 2012 are Rosemary McArthur as secretary and Heather Martineau as treasurer. The position of vice-president is not filled currently.

Directors on the RVA executive include Leslie Abraham, Lynne Owen, Harvey Snyder and Judy Wagdin.

Bruce Webster is the immediate past president of the RVA.